PUPILS and staff at Emmanuel Middle School in Verwood rolled out the gangplank for performances of The Pirates of the Curry Bean on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Along with scores of bad jokes, the hilarious piratical musical featured music, dance and swashbuckling adventures that kept the audience enthralled.

Musical director Margaret Knight said: “More than a quarter of the school's pupils have been working hard in clubs and rehearsals since Christmas to create the drama, music, sets and props for this light-hearted piratical musical, which is full of some of the worst jokes you've heard since you opened your Christmas cracker!

“I'm extremely grateful to all the pupils and staff who've given up so much of their time to get the show on the road.”